Automatic chess time indicator

ABSTRACT

An automatic time indicator for use during a chess match. A control circuit is provided to alternately control the running of respective players&#39;&#39; time clocks without any direct manual intervention, relying on circuitry in the chess board itself and the placement of a chess piece on a new square by any player.

0 United States Patent 1151 3,698,180 Klein 1 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC CHESS TIME INDICATOR [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Emil Klein, New York, N.Y. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1 Assignee= Samuel Kinnroth, New York, 2,539,754 1/1951 Rittinger et a1 ..58/153 x N.Y. a part interest [22] Filed: Aug 6, 1971 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExammerEd1th C. S1mmons Jackmon PP NW 18 Attorney-George Gottlieb et al.

Related UeS. Application Data [63] continuation'inpan of An automatic time indicator for use during a chess March 1969 abandoned match. A control circuit is provided to alternately control the running of respective players time clocks [52] US. Cl ..58/145 D, 58/395, 58/145, without any direct manual intervention relying on cip 273/131 273/148 R cuitry in the chess board itself and the placement of a [51] Int. Cl. ..G04f 3/00, A63f 3/02, A63f 9/00 chess piece on a new square by any player [58] Field of Search ...58/39.5, 145 R, 145 A, 145 D,

58/152 R, 153; 273/131 AB, 148 R 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC CHESS TIME INDICATOR This invention relates to chess clocks, and more particularly to automatically switched chess clocks. This application is a continuation-in-part of my now abandoned application, Ser. No. 804,118, filed on Mar. 4, l969.

In tournament chess, each player is provided with a clock which is caused to run whenever the player is thinking about his next more. Typically, the two clocks are provided in a single mechanism, with a button extending from the top of the mechanism above each clock. After each player has made his move, he presses his button. This causes his clock to stop running and his opponents clock to start running. The clocks are provided to indicate whether any player has failed to make a prescribed number of moves in a pre-set time interval.

One of the disadvantages of prior art chess clocks is that each player must remember to switch the clocks after a move. It sometimes happens that a player fails to remember to switch the clocks after his move. Also, to some players it is annoying to have to transfer ones thoughts to the clocks following a move.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a chess clock mechanism in which the clocks are switched automatically following any move by a player.

Briefly, in accordance with the principles of my invention, I provide a pair of exposed conductors which are contained on a base under the chess board squares, the wires passing beneath each of the 64 squares. Each square is mounted indepenently of the others on sponge rubber or like material such that it is biased upward from the base. At the bottom of each square a conducting contact is mounted such that when the square is pushed down the contact short-circuits the two wires. The sponge rubber provides a sufficient force to maintain the square in a raised position, even when a chess piece is supported by it, such that in the absence of a deliberate pushing down of a square by a player the two wires are not short-circuited.

Two clocks are mounted in a single console and the system further includes a memory circuit. The memory circuit is a two-state device; when it is in one state it causes one of the clocks to run and when it is in the other state it causes the other clock to run. Each time the two conductors in the chess board are short-circuited, the state of the memory circuit is switched. Consequently, all that a player must do in order to switch the clocks is that when he makes a move and places his piece on a new square, he forces the square down so that the two wires within the chess board are short-circuited and the state of the memory circuit switches. After release of the piece, the square is forced upward to its normal position and the clocks do not switch again until the opposing player pushes one of his pieces down against a new square.

Instead of providing a single console with two clocks which can be placed between the two players, it is also possible to provide two consoles, each of which contains two clocks. In each console one of the clocks represents the elapsed time of one player and the other clock represents the elapsed time of the other. When the memory circuit is in a first state, the clock in each of the consoles which represents the elapsed time of the first player runs. When the memory circuit is in the second state, the other clock in each of the consoles runs.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a chess board with 64 squares each of which can be depressed slightly when a chess piece is first pushed down thereon, the depression of any square short-circuiting a pair of wires which run through the board under each of the 64 squares.

It is another feature of my invention to automatically turn off a previously on chess clock and to turn on the previously off chess clock whenever the pair of wires is short-circuited.

Further objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the illustrative system of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and depicts the construction of the board; and

FIG. 3 depicts illustrative circuitry for inclusion in memory circuit 50 of FIG. 1.

The system of FIG. 1 includes a chess board 10, a memory circuit 50 (which may actually be included within the chess board, if desired) and two consoles 30, 32. Each console includes a pair of clocks. Clocks 30-1 and 32-1 indicate the elapsed time for the first (white) player. Clocks 30-2 and 32-2 indicate the elapsed time for the second (black) player. The provision of two consoles allows each player to be provided with a pair of clocks which can be placed immediately in front of him, although it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to the provision of a single console.

A pair of wires 12, 14 is mounted on the base of the board, as will be described with reference to FIG. 2, the two wires passing underneath each of 64 independently mounted squares on top of the board. The two wires are extended to the input of memory circuit 50. Whenever one of the squares is forced downward, as indicated symbolically in FIG. 1 by pressing down on one of the squares with a chess piece 20, a contact at the bottom of the square short-circuits the wires and switches the state of memory circuit 50. At the start of play, conductor 24 is energized as will be described below. This conductor is extended to each of the consoles and causes the clocks 30-1, 32-1 associated with the white player to start running in each console. As soon as the white player makes his first move and shortcircuits wires 12 and 14, the state of memory element 50 switches. At this time, conductor 22 is energized rather than conductor 24. Conductor 22 is similarly extended to both consoles and, when energized, causes clocks 30-2 and 32-2 to run while the black player contemplates the board. Thereafter, each time that one of the squares on the board is depressed following a move by a player, the clocks switch automatically.

As shown in FIG. 2, the board consists of a base 70, the two exposed conductors l2 and 14 being secured to the base (for example, by adhesive) and passing underneath each of the 64 squares of the board (see FIG. 1). Secured to the base are supporting elements 72 on top of which sponge rubber 74 or similar resilient material is provided. Sufficient sponge rubber is provided around the edges of each square 76 to rigidly support it in a raised position, the sponge rubber being attached to both base elements 72 and the squares, for example, by adhesive. Underneath each square there is fixed a supporting member 78 to the bottom of which there is attached a conducting disc or bar contact 80.

The weight of a chess piece 20 placed on one of the squares is not sufficient to overcome the upward force of the sponge rubber 74 to depress the square and cause contact 80 to bridge the two wires. However, when a player places a piece 20 on the square and deliberately pushes down, the square moves down against the force of the sponge rubber 74 and the two wires are short-circuited by contact 80. Upon release of the piece by the player, the sponge rubber forces the square upward once again together with the piece. It should be noted that the edges of the squares are beveled to facilitate their upward movement even though each square is surrounded or bounded by other squares.

FIG. 3 depicts a memory circuit which is suitable for the purposes of the invention. Switch 52 is the main onoff switch which is closed at the start of play. The closing of the switch connects potential source 54 through contact 622 to conductor 24. At this time the clocks 30-1, 32-1 associated with the white player in each console begins to run. Initially, both of relays 60 and 62 are de-energized. Although the potential source is extended through resistors 56 and 58 to one end of each of the relay windings, the other end of each of the windings is extended through the normally-closed contacts 60-2 of relay 60 to conductor 12; since conductor 12 is not connected to ground through conductor 14in the chess board, neither relay operates.

As soon as the white player makes his first move, conductors l2 and 14 are momentarily short-circuited. At this time, ground from conductor 14 is extended to conductor 12 and through the normally-closed contacts 60-2 of relay 60 to one end of each of the relay windings. Relay 62, however, does not energize because ground is also extended through the normally closed contacts 62-1 to the other end of the winding of relay 62. Relay 60 does operate, normally open contacts 60-] closing before normally-closed contacts 60-2 open. Thus contacts 60-1 provide a holding path for relay 60 even after the ground is removed from conductor 12. As soon as the ground is removed by release of his piece by the white player, thereby open-circuiting conductors l2 and 14, the end of the winding of relay 62 connected to resistor 58 is no longer grounded. At this time relay 62 energizes (through contacts 60-1), transferring contacts 622 to conductor 22 which is now energized from source 54,rather than conductor 24. This disables clocks 30-1, 32-1, and starts clocks 30-2, 32-2 running. Thus upon release of the piece, the clocks of the two players are automatically switched. Both relays 60, 62 remain energized while the black player contemplates the board.

Following a move by the black player, conductors l2 and 14 are momentarily shorted together once again. The ground potential from conductor 14 is extended to conductor 12 and through the normally open contacts 62-1 (which are now closed) to the end of the winding of relay 60 which is connected to resistor 56. Since the other end of the relay winding is also grounded, through contacts 60-1, the relay de-energizes. Relay 62 remains energized, however, by the ground potential on conductor 12 which is extended through the normally closed contacts 60-2 to one end of the winding of relay 62. But as soon as the ground on conductor 12 is removed, relay 62 releases and conductor 24 is once again energized rather than conductor 22 when contacts 622 return to the position shown in FIG. 3. The memory circuit remains in the second state with both relays de-energized until the white player makes his next move, following which the two relays energize once again.

Conventional chess clocks are often provided with flags, the flag of either player being raised when the total allotted time for his moves has elapsed. Similar flags controlled by the hands of the clocks can be provided in consoles 30 and 32. Alternatively, electronic or mechanical timing mechanisms can be provided such that one of two lamps or alarms is energized when a respective clock reaches a preset limit.

It should also be noted that when a player castles, involving the movement of two pieces, the first piece which he places on the board should not be forced down; it is only the second piece that he places down on a square-at the end of his move-which should be forced down to switch the state of the memory circuit. Similarly, when a player has advanced a pawn to the first row on his opponent's side, entitling him to exchange it for a queen, the player should be told in advance when the clocks should be switched, that is, whether the pawn should be forced down upon its terminal square or whether it should just be removed and its queen replacement forced down to switch the clocks. It should further be noted that in case of a mistake, for example, a player forgetting to push down a square, the clocks can be switched immediately by the player pushing down any square on the board.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made therein and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic chess time indicator system comprising a chess board having 64 squares, means in said chess board for determining the initial placement of a chess piece by a player on one of said squares, a pair of clocks, and means for selectively controlling the running of one of said clocks at a time and the switching of the running of said clocks responsive to the operation of said determining means.

2. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said 64 squares are independently mounted on said chess board and said chess board includes means for allowing a forced depression of each of said squares, said determining means being operative responsive to the depression of one of said squares.

3. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said determining means includes a pair of conducting means within said chess board running underneath each of said squares, contact means on the underside of each of said squares for short-circuiting said conducting means when the square is depressed, and means for biasing each of said squares upward such that said conducting means normally are open-circuited, said biasing means being sufficient to overcome the downward force exerted by any chess piece on a square but allowing the forced depression of a square by a player pushing a chess piece down against a square.

4. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.

5. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said determining means includes electrical means within said chess board operative responsive to the depression of any one of said squares, and means for biasing each of said squares upward such that said electrical means normally are not operated, said biasing means being sufficient to overcome the downward force exerted by any chess piece on a square but allowing the forced depression of a square by a player pushing a chess piece down against a square.

6. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for goveming the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said electrical means.

7. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said determining means includes electrical means within said chess board operative responsive to a downward force in excess of the weight of any chess piece used with the board being applied to one of said squares.

8. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.

9. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.

10. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said determining means includes means within said chess board operative responsive to a downward force in excess of the weight of any chess piece used with the board being applied to one of said squares. 

1. An automatic chess time indicator system comprising a chess board having 64 squares, means in said chess board for determining the initial placement of a chess piece by a player on one of said squares, a pair of clocks, and means for selectively controlling the running of one of said clocks at a time and the switching of the running of said clocks responsive to the operation of said determining means.
 2. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said 64 squares are independently mounted on said chess board and said chess board includes means for allowing a forced depression of each of said squares, said determining means being operative responsive to the depression of one of said squares.
 3. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said determining means includes a pair of conducting means within said chess board running underneath each of said squares, contact means on the underside of each of said squares for short-circuiting said conducting means when the square is depressed, and means for biasing each of said squares upward such that said conducting means normally are open-circuited, said biasing means being sufficient to overcome the downward force exerted by any chess piece on a square but allowing the forced depression of a square by a player pushing a chess piece down against a square.
 4. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.
 5. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said determining means includes electrical means within said chess board operative responsive to the depression of any one of said squares, and means for biasing each of said squares upward such that said electrical means normally are not operated, said biasing means being sufficient to overcome the downward force exerted by any chess piece on a square but allowing the forced depression of a square by a player pushing a chess piece down against a square.
 6. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said electrical means.
 7. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said determining means includes electrical means within said chess board operative responsive To a downward force in excess of the weight of any chess piece used with the board being applied to one of said squares.
 8. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.
 9. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes a two-state memory device, means for governing the running of each of said clocks when said memory device is in a respective state, and means for switching the state of the memory device responsive to the operation of said determining means.
 10. An automatic chess time indicator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said determining means includes means within said chess board operative responsive to a downward force in excess of the weight of any chess piece used with the board being applied to one of said squares. 